This unit focuses on the physical and human geography of the United States and Canada. Regarding physical geography, the unit explores how location has shaped the history of the two countries and led to regional labels. The unit also analyzes human activities such as migration patterns, standards of living, and environmental issues involving conservation and the use of natural resources. Students will understand that physical and human features have led to regional labels throughout the United States and Canada. Students will also understand how various human activities and physical features of the two countries have affected their history. Students will understand the significance of human migration trends and economic issues such as the distribution of natural resources throughout the area, standard of living, and environmental challenges facing the United States and Canada

GLEs and CCSS-What students will learn during this unit.

Unit 2 Grade-Level Expectations (GLEs) and ELA Common Core State Standards (CCSSs) Grade Level ExpectationsWorld in Spatial Terms and Uses of Geography WG.1.4 Use geographic representations to locate the world’s continents, major landforms, major bodies of water and major countries and to solve geographic problemsPhysical Systems WG.2.2 Identify and locate world climate regions and evaluate the impact of the Earth/Sun relationship, ocean currents, wind currents, and elevation on each climate region WG.2.3 Compare and contrast regions of the world by analyzing the plant and animal life indigenous to the region (ecosystems) WG.2.4 Explain and give examples of natural and human processes that shape Earth’s surface and identify specific locations where these processes occurRegion WG.3.1 Analyze how cooperation, conflict, and self-interest impact the cultural, political, and economic regions of the world and relations between nations WG.3.2 Determine the unifying characteristics that regions possess and explain changes that they have experienced over time WG.3.3 Explain how human and physical characteristics facilitate or hinder regional interactionsPlace WG.4.1 Determine the physical and human characteristics that comprise the identity of a given place WG.4.2 Analyze the distinguishing physical characteristics of a given place to determine their impact on human activities WG.4.3 Identify and analyze distinguishing human characteristics of a given place to determine their influence on historical events WG.4.4 Evaluate the impact of historical events on culture and relationships among groupsHuman Systems WG.5.1 Describe and classify reasons for human migration in terms of push or pull factors to determine the changes and similarities in these factors over time WG.5.2 Use population pyramids, geographic data and maps to analyze the current impact of population growth and to predict future population trends WG.5.3 Describe and illustrate specific examples of economic interdependence in various regions WG.5.4 Determine the factors that contribute to a country’s standard of living WG.5.5 Explain how changes in technology have contributed to the spread of ideas and information throughout the worldEnvironment and Society WG.6.3 Analyze the distribution of resources and describe their impact on human systems (past, present, and future) WG.6.4 Assess the role of government and business in preserving or consuming natural resources and protecting or destroying the physical environment RH.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text. RH.9-10.3 Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them RH.9-10.5 Analyze how a text uses structure to emphasize key points or advance an explanation or analysis. RH.9-10.9 Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources WHST.9-10.21. Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes. b. Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic). WHST.9-10.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. WHST.9-10.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation WHST.9-10.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. WHST.9-10.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences

Guiding Questions

1. Can students describe the unifying characteristics of the United States and Canada? 2. Can students determine how human and physical characteristics promote cooperation between the United States and Canada? 3. Can students determine how the physical characteristics of the United States and Canada have shaped economic development? 4. Can students describe the shared cultural heritage between the United States and Canada? 5. Can students describe how the United States’ and Canada’s standard of living compare with each other? 6. Can students explain how physical features and natural resources influenced settlement patterns in the United States and Canada? 7. Can students describe how the physical environment challenges the United States and Canada?